Device for regulating steam-pumps.



Patented Mar. 5, Mil.

J. G.-HODGSON. DEVICE FOR-BEGULATING STEAM PUMPS. (Application fliedOct. 22, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: 24% IINVENTOR 19% A TTORNEYJ;

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UNTTED STATES PATENT JOHN G. I-IODGSON, OF MAYWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO NORTON BROTHERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR REGULATING STEAM-PUMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,257, dated March 5,1901. Application filed October 22,1900. belialIIO- 33,970. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. HODGSON, a citizen of the United States,residing in Maywood, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for AutomaticallyControlling or Regulating Steam-Pumps for Hydraulic Cylinders, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic pinup-controllingdevice of a simple, efficient, and durable construction which willreliably and properly control the action of the pump so as to maintain asubstantially uniform water-pressu re in the hydraulic ram and preventsudden shocks to or jarring acpump and having a movable pistonsupporting a heavy weight and a lever connected with the steam-valve andprovided with a spring tending to close it, and said valve-le-' verhavinga weight connected through a flexible connection with its otherarm, which operates to open the steam-valve when the weighted piston ofthe water-cylinder drops low enough to. permit said weight to act on thevalve-lever, said weight resting partially or entirely on the weightedpiston when said piston stands at or above the properheight. The spring,which tends to open the valve-lever, at all times partially supports orcounteracts the weight, which tends to close the valve-lever. Nhen theweighted piston rises too high or above its normal height, the spring,acting on the valve-lever, closes the valve and diminishes the action ofthe pump. The weight on the piston of the water-cylinder is sufiicientlygreat in respect vto the area of said piston to give or maintain therequired hydraulic pressure.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, Ihave illustrated in side elevation a machine or apparatus embodying myinvention.

In said drawing, A represents a pump by which water under pressure issupplied to a hydraulic cylinder through the pipe A, lead ing thereto.

B is a steam or other engine for operating the pump, and O is the valveor device for controlling or regulating the supply of steam or otherpower to the engine, said valve being opened more or less according tothe work required from time to t inie, and C is the lever or handle ofsaid valve.

D is an upright water-cylinder, preferably of some considerable capacityand to which water under pressure is supplied from the pump A throughthe pipe I). This water-cylinder D has a piston D, adapted to move upand down in the same and carrying a heavy weight D on its upper end,said weight corresponding to the degree of hydraulic pressure normallyrequired. The weight preferably consists of a tank or vessel, so thatthe same can be filled to a greater or less extent with pieces of ironor other heavy substance and the amount of weight on the piston thusregulated according to needs.

F is a valve-operating lever having an arm f, connected with thevalve-lever C by a link F. This arm falso has connected to it a springG, which tends to close the valve-lever. The other arm f of thevalve-operating lever F has connected to it by a chain or flexibleconnection 77. a weight H, sufficiently heavy to overcome the tension ofthe spring G, and which weight tends to open the steamvalve C. Thisweight H is adapted to rest upon and be supported or partially supportedby the weighted piston D of the wa: ter-cylinder through a shelf orbracket (1, connected thereto or to the weight carried thereby, when theweighted piston stands at its normal or proper height or is raised abovethe same. In operation when the water and water-pressure supplied bythepump to the hydraulic ram fall below that required for the Work beingdone, the weighted piston D of the Water-cylinder D descends underaction of its weight, thus leaving the steam-valveoperating weight Hunsupported or free to act upon the lever H, and thus further open thesteam-valve, and thereby accelerate the action and force of the engineand pump to the extent required, be it more or less, to restore andmaintain the water-supply and waterpressure at the point required. If,on the other hand, the water-s11 pply and water-pressure produced by thepump at any time exoeed that required by the work being done, theWeighted piston D of the water-cylinder D Will rise above its normalheight, thus further supporting or lifting the valve-operating; weight Hand permitting the spring G to furt er close the valve and reduce thesupply olsteam or power, and thus diminish the action of the pump untilthe Weighted piston D again assumes its normal height. or position. Asthe connection between the Weighted piston and the steam-valve is thusdirect and positive, its regulating action, whether to increase ordecrease the supply of steam. is almost instantaneous, so that thehydraulic pressure produced by thipump is maintained substantiallyuniform and prevented from sudden variation, and as the upright Waercylinder 1) itself contains a material reserve supply of water underpressure, owing to its weighted piston, which reserve supply issufficient to meet momentarily any sudden supply called for by thehydraulic rain or work being done and until the supply produced by thepump is increased, as required, by reason of the engine being under suchquick control, as before described, the result is that the pump iscaused to work with substantially absolute smoothness and afford aperfectly uniform water-pressure, thus preventing all shocks to themechanism and all tendency to produce any water-hammering, jarring, orchugging action.

I claim- 1. The combination with a pump, its operating engine and valveor device for contro line: the action of the engine, of an uprightwater-cylinder connected with the pump and having a weighted piston, ofa valve-operatingz lever having a weight and a flexible connectionbetween said Weight and lever for op erating the same, the action ofwhich weight upon said valve lever is arrested by the weighted piston ofthe water-cylinder when said piston rises too high, substantially asspecified.

2. The combination with a pump, its operating: engine and valve ordevice for controlling the action of the engine, of an uprightwater-cylinder connected with the pump and having,' a Weighted piston,ot. a Valve-operating lever having a Weight for operating the same, theaction of which weight upon said valve-lever is arrested by the weightedpis ton of the water-cylinder when said piston rises too high, saidvalve-opeiating lever having a spring, tending to close the valve,substantially as specified.

3. The combination of pump A with engine B, steam-valve O, lever O,upright cylinder D, having weighted piston D, valve-operating lever F,having arms ff, spring G, and weight l-I having a flexible connectionwith the valve opert-tting lever and adapted to be supported by theweighted piston D when said piston rises too high, substantially asspecified.

JOHN G. HO DGSON.

\Vitnesses:

EDMUND ADcocK, H. M. MUNDAY.

